Strategic Infrastructure Development is Key to Realizing India's Aviation Ambitions
Explore the resurgence of the Indian aviation sector following the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the vital need for improved airport infrastructure and strategic planning to unlock its full growth potential.
The Indian aviation sector, having weathered the COVID-19 pandemic's storm, now stands on the brink of a significant resurgence. The worst of the crisis is behind us, as evidenced by the steady return of air passengers, the renewed enthusiasm of small and medium-sized businesses, and the substantial easing of both domestic and international air travel restrictions.
This resilience signals a promising recovery, indicating that Indian aviation is once again ready to embark on the remarkable growth trajectory it experienced until 2019. However, a critical, open-ended question remains: will the sector truly realise its full potential, and will policymakers, administrators, and the bureaucracy become proactive in fostering this growth?
The Indian aviation sector's success hinges on a strategic focus on five primary factors. These factors, which include the aircraft and the personnel who operate and manage them, are crucial for the industry to unleash its full potential.
Humans and materials which fly: This encompasses the aircraft themselves, the pilots, the flight crew, and the maintenance personnel essential for their operation.
People who work, operate or manage: This refers to the broad spectrum of human resources involved in the aviation ecosystem, from ground staff and air traffic controllers to airline management and regulatory bodies.
Aeroplanes: The availability and modernisation of the aircraft fleet are fundamental to meeting growing demand.
Airport infrastructure: This includes runways, taxiways, terminals, air traffic control facilities, and, crucially, parking and maintenance hangars.
Finance support: Access to capital for airlines, airports, and supporting industries is vital for investment and expansion.
India's unique advantage, its vast population base, sets it apart from many other nations. This demographic strength ensures a robust customer base for any business activity, including aviation. India also boasts a rich and diverse pool of human capital, from highly skilled professionals to semi-skilled and unskilled labour. This diversity in the workforce is a significant advantage for India, allowing it to comfortably meet the first two critical factors for aviation success—"Humans and materials which fly" and "People who work, operate or manage".
When it comes to the third box—aeroplanes—and the fifth box—finance—these are no longer significant concerns. Indian airline companies have shown remarkable foresight and confidence by placing substantial bulk orders with the world's leading plane manufacturers. IndiGo and Air India have strategically chosen Airbus for their fleet expansion, while SpiceJet continues to bolster its operations with Boeing products. This proactive acquisition of modern aircraft indicates a strong commitment to expanding capacity and meeting future demand, supported by accessible financial avenues.
However, the singular and most significant obstacle currently impeding the growth of Indian airlines and their ability to increase fleet size is none other than "airport infrastructure"—the critical fourth box. The unfortunate reality is that the inadequate development of airport facilities is directly hindering the sector's growth. Airlines, despite their willingness and financial capacity to acquire new aeroplanes, are constrained by a fundamental lack of sufficient parking space at existing airports. This bottleneck prevents them from introducing new aircraft into their fleets, as regulatory authorities are unable to provide the necessary clearances for parking, effectively grounding potential growth.
India inherently possesses immense potential in the aviation sector, a fact underscored by its substantial strategic positioning on the global map. Stakeholders across the industry should be immensely pleased with this latent capacity. However, the current state of airport capacity across the country is far from ideal, remaining the primary impediment to unlocking this potential. It is here that the critical need for a far-sighted vision from the administration and policymakers becomes abundantly clear. They must recognise this deficiency and proactively address it with urgency and strategic planning.
Ultimately, India's pathway to fully fueling its aviation growth hinges on one crucial element: establishing an efficient administrative set-up. Once this administrative efficiency is achieved, India must embark on an aggressive and rapid development of its airport infrastructure and associated support systems. This includes not only expanding existing airports but also developing new ones, optimising air traffic management, and ensuring seamless ground operations. By meeting these basic administrative requirements, India can solidify its position in the global aviation market and truly capitalise on its inherent strengths.
